"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced tutor to support their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily miss the term "initial stages" as just figurative language.
However, it could be the most significant part of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have since been sent in since the unnamed family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention across the media, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that despite initial doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the atypical character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," stated the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", said he. "The family know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who have those doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been educated knowing and embodying both cultures. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can function as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can in some way transfer the attributes of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically UK tutor from infancy will does not automatically produce the goal they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
